[A] new report on “outlandish” spending by leadership PACs called out Sen. Patrick Leahy for focusing less than half his spending for 2017-18 on contributions to candidates and political groups — the ostensible purpose of these PACs.
Just 43% of the $829,000 spent by Green Mountain PAC, run by the Vermont Democrat, went toward political causes over the past several years. The rest was spent on a number of administrative expenses, including everything from mail services to paying fundraising consultants — but there were a key few line items that the report took issue with.
Published by Issue One, which calls itself a “cross-partisan” political reform group, the report identified Leahy’s leadership PAC in October 2018 as spending $8,797 at Burlington’s Hotel Vermont, which the group describes as “chic,” and $1,365 at the Trapp Family Lodge, which the report calls a “luxury resort in Vermont that advertises its ‘Austrian inspired architecture and European style accommodations’ surrounded by ‘stunning mountain views.’”
Carolyn Dwyer, Leahy’s longtime campaign manager, said both expenses were part of a weekend retreat that “raises money for the leadership PAC while also promoting Vermont businesses and products.”
“Senator Leahy has always supported transparency in campaign finances, reporting every contribution and expense for full disclosure,” Dwyer said.
Leahy’s PAC is not alone in its spending record. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, only about 46% of total leadership PAC spending has gone toward candidates and political groups in recent years.
Michael Beckel, manager of research, investigations and policy analysis at Issue One, said one of the the group’s primary concerns was politicians who use leadership PAC money to fly across the country, holding fundraisers while they ski in Aspen or lounge on the beach in Florida.
“Some members [of Congress] will travel hundreds or thousands of miles to raise money at luxurious resorts,” Beckel said. “In Leahy’s case, the bulk of fundraisers are taking place in Vermont — albeit at some pretty nice places.”
Outside of those two expenses, Green Mountain PAC had only a few other food and lodging costs over the two years in question. In 2017, it spent $1,577 at Ben & Jerry’s, $1,317 at 802 Cocktails in Milton, and in 2018, $1,415 at Sugarsnap Catering in Burlington.
According to the report, members of Congress routinely use leadership PAC funds to pay for “expensive meals, rounds of golf, and luxury hotel stays,” often under the guise of fundraising. By law, campaign funds cannot be used for personal use, allegedly causing officeholders to turn to their leadership PACs for these expenses.
“Leadership PACs were created to help politicians give away money to allies,” Beckel said. “Not to help them live lives their constituents can’t afford.”
